Bible Commentaries
Psalms 69

Verses 1-36

Psalms 69

Humiliation and Rejection

This is a prophetic Psalm of the humiliation and rejection of Jesus Christ, pre-figured in the life experience of David. The 72nd is the next prophetic psalm.

Scripture v. 1-36:

Verses 1, 2 appeal to God for salvation from flood-waters of threatened death against the life of David, as he cried, "save me, O God," much as the cry of Jonah, Jonah 2:5-10. His sense of helplessness is described as standing in deep waters and sinking in deep mire of a pit, like Jeremiah, or going down at sea, Psalms 40:2; Jeremiah 38:6; Isaiah 38:7; Psalms 88:6; Ezekiel 27:26; Ezekiel 27:34.

Verses 3, 4 describe his despairing condition as one with a dry throat, weary of crying,’ with weakened vision, with strained eyes that long had looked in vain for help from God, Psalms 119:82; La 4:17; Psalms 40:12. It is added "They that hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of mine head," as also stated by and fulfilled in Jesus Christ, John 15:25.
Verse 4 further states that those enemies who desired to destroy him wrongfully were mighty, powerful, or in positions of rulership, Psalms 35:19; Psalms 38:19. The phrase, "I restored that which I took not away," means he was falsely accused of things he had never said or done, Psalms 35:11; 2 Samuel 16:8.

Verse 5 Is a Davidic confession and concession that the Lord was conscious of his foolish thoughts and deeds of guilt; as well as knowledgeable of false charges that were repeatedly laid against him, as they also were against the Lord, charging him as a mad-man, a wine bibber, and having a devil, Matthew 11:19; John 10:20. He also bore the sin of the world as a substitute for His enemies, Psalms 38:3-5; Psalms 40:12.

Verse 6 appeals to the Lord God to let not those who trusted in Him (in God) have occasion to be ashamed because of false charges made against him (David). He asked also that God not permit those who waited on the Lord, be confounded, stumble, or caused to feel that following him, the Lord’s anointed over Israel, was to no avail, Psalms 25:3.

Verses 7, 8 declare that David had borne reproach and had his face covered with shame for the sake of the Lord, as the Lord’s anointed king over the covenant people, Israel. He prayed that God would not permit such shame and reproach to fall on the people of his kingdom, much as our Lord prayed for His church-people of this age, Jeremiah 15:15; Mt 27; 57; Isaiah 1:6. He adds that he had become a "stranger to his brethren, and an alien to his mother’s children," even as our Lord did, John 7:3-5; Psalms 31:11; Isaiah 53:3; John 1:11.

Verse 9 relates that "the zeal" of the Lord’s house had eaten him up or consumed him like a flame, Psalms 119:139; and "reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen on me," even as it happened to the Lord, Romans 15:3; John 2:17; 1 Kings 19:10; Mark 11:15-17.

Verses 10, 11 state that when David wept and fasted with a garment of sackcloth it too became a reproach to him and a proverb or by word of derision to his enemies. Instead of repenting at his weeping, many of Israel only scoffed, 2 Samuel 12:16; 2 Samuel 12:21; Psalms 35:13; Psalms 44:13-14. See also Deuteronomy 28:37; 1 Kings 9:7; Jeremiah 24:9.

Verse 12 adds ’they that sit (regularly) in the gate speak against me," with premeditated malice, to do me harm, Psalms 55:2; Psalms 55:17. He too "was (had become) the theme-song of the drunkards." Both men who engaged in commerce in the gate, and those in brother - like places, spoke him to scorn, Job 17:6; Job 30:9; La 3:14, 63; Isaiah 5:11-12.

Verse 13 declares "but as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O Lord, in an acceptable time," in a time of grace, or of your good pleasure to deliver or save me, Isaiah 49:8; Isaiah 61:2; Isaiah 55:6. He continued "hear me" in the light of your multitude of mercies and truth of your salvation, as promised Psalms 71:2.

Verses 14, 15 appeal to the caring God to show mercy and deliverance from sinking in the mire or in the depth of the sea of despair and death, brought on by the hate of David’s enemies, a foreview of the hate of the world against our Lord, Psalms 18:4; Psalms 144:7; Psalms 40:2; John 15:18-20; John 15:25; Isaiah 66:5.

Verses 16, 17 urge the Lord to hear or respond to David’s cry, according to his tender mercies and lovingkindness, Exodus 2:23; Psalms 17:7.
Verse 17 continues to cry out for the Lord to hide not his face or turn not away from his servant’s urgent cry, but to make haste to his rescue, specially, post-haste. Deuteronomy 4:31; Deuteronomy 31:18; Job 5:7.

Verse 18 adds "draw nigh (come very near) to my soul and redeem it; deliver me because or mine enemies." It is from such a sincere soul God moves to rescue men from eternal death and preserve them or uphold them in times of despair, Psalms 31:5; Psalms 40:1-3; Psalms 71:10; Psalms 145:18-19; Psalms 22:11; Psalms 13:4.

Verses 19-21 relate David’s state before his enemies as an occasion for this earnest prayer to the Elohim, sustaining God. He acknowledged that God had known about his reproach, shame, and dishonor by the rebellious of Israel, his adversaries, 1 Samuel 2:3; Isaiah 53:3. He adds that reproaches had crushed his heart, and he was then full of heavy despair, while no one could be found to pity, comfort, or show any seeming care, or to lament with him, Psalms 42:6; Matthew 26:37-38; John 12:27; Psalms 142:4. Such pictured the broken heart of Christ, as related, when the spear pierced his heart, from which came forth blood and water, as the veil of his flesh was rent as that of the temple, Hebrews 10:20; Psalms 6:2. It is added "they gave me also gall for my meat (Proverbs 10:26) and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink," as it was twice offered to our Lord, 1st with gall, Matthew 27:34; Matthew 27:2 nd with myrrh, Mark 15:23. But He refused to drink when He had tasted it, choosing to suffer full agonies of physical and spiritual rejection for the sins of all the world; Tho He cried, I thirst, that the Scriptures about Him might all be fulfilled, John 19:28; Matthew 27:48; Luke 24:25-27; Luke 24:44-45.

Verses 22-28 pronounce doom upon the enemies of David, Israel, and the Lord Jesus Christ. Verse 22 begins this imprecatory prayer of David that 1) the Lord will let the table of his enemies, what they have planned, become a snare and a trap before them rather than the good they may have had from Him by an upright walk The Jewish table was an high religious privilege in both the Passover and sacrifices, but they were abrogated in Christ whom they rejected, Psalms 23:5; Romans 11:9.

Verse 23 adds "let their eyes (therefore) be darkened (astigmatized) that they see not; and make their loins continually to shake," in fear, as an evidence of Divine judgment, Deuteronomy 28:66-67; Isaiah 21:3-4; Jeremiah 30:6; Daniel 5:6; Romans 11:10; 2 Corinthians 3:14; John 12:37; John 12:40.
Verse 24 continues "pour out thy indignation upon them, and let thy wrathful anger take hold of them." He desired that his enemies be so heavily judged that they would have neither eyes to see nor strength to do evil any more, Psalms 78:49;2 Kings 22:13; Isaiah 6:10.

Verses 25, 26 plead that their habitation may come to be permanently desolate, with none to live there any more, in any of their tents, Matthew 23:38; Acts 1:20. For they continually persecuted David whom the Lord had smitten, and they talked to the grief, exulted over the pain and grief of David; and even more-so of Jesus in His sufferings, Isaiah 66:16; Jeremiah 25:33; Isaiah 53:4; Isaiah 53:10. They persecuted and derided when they should have shown pity, Psalms 41:8-9.

Verses 27, 28 conclude the imprecatory prayer by asking God to "add iniquity to their iniquity," or its penalty to their iniquity, and to "let them not come into his righteousness," because of just punishment that is due them, Psalms 31:10; Psalms 40:12; Jeremiah 18:23; La 4:6; Romans 2:5; 2 Timothy 4:14; Romans 9:31. He pled further that God might just "blot them out" of the book of the living, Exodus 32:32; Philippians 4:3; Ezekiel 13:9. The names of those who did were left out of the roll of the living in Israel. David prayed that his enemies might fall into that category, through immediate death, Proverbs 10:7. No ones name will be blotted out of the Lamb’s book of life, Luke 10:20. Names are written in it when one is saved, so that the names of some precede and follow others, John 10:28-29; Acts 13:48; Revelation 22:12; Revelation 22:15; Romans 16:7.

Verses 29, 30 declare of David, "But I am (exist) poor and sorrowful. Let thy salvation, O God, set me on high," in opposition to his enemies, being brought low or cast down in judgment, even as our Lord was exalted above His enemies, Philippians 2:6-9; Psalms 35:10; Psalms 91:14. David added, "I will praise the name of God with a song," a thing that delighted his soul, "and magnify him with thanksgiving," Psalms 107:22; 1 Chronicles 16:8.

Verse 31 adds that "this also shall please (delight) the Lord better than an ox or bullock that has horns and hoofs," more than a clean animal that chewed the cud and divided the hoof, Leviticus 11:3-4; Proverbs 16:7; 1 Samuel 15:22.

Verses 32, 33 assert that "the humble shall see this (praise and thanksgiving to God) and be glad, knowing they too shall receive deliverance from their afflictions, adding, "and your hearts shall live that (who) seek God," Psalms 22:26; 2 Chronicles 30:21; Deuteronomy 32:47; 2 Chronicles 11:16; Isaiah 55:6-7.
Verse 33 continues "The Lord heareth (responds to) the poor and despiteth not (does not take lightly) his prisoners," those in bonds of affliction for His sake, or by His appointment, v. 7, 26; Psalms 22:24; Job 34:28; Job 5:15; Psalms 109:31.

Verse 34 exhorts men to let the heavens, the earth, the seas and every thing that moves therein, in each of the three, "praise him," who is worthy, Psalms 9:11; Psalms 65:13; Psalms 98:8; Revelation 5:9-14.

Verse 35 pledges that God will save Zion and build the cities of Judah, in order that they (Israel) His covenant people, may surely dwell there and hold it in their possession, under the coming Messiah, Psalms 27:1; 2 Samuel 5:7; Genesis 12:7.

Verse 36 concludes "the seed also of his servant (David) shall inherit it (as a Divine covenant land-grant) and they who love his name shall reside therein," under the Messiah, as King of kings, and Lord of lords, Psalms 25:13; Psalms 37:11; Psalms 102:28; Luke 1:32-34; Revelation 19:11-16.